Behaviour that could get you arrested during a protest
Stay away from doing any of these actions that could get you into trouble with the law.
There are several violent protests happening in different parts of South Africa at the moment.
On Monday, taxi drivers in the Pretoria CBD started to block streets in a protest against reported drug sellers. According to the Citizen, the decision by the taxi operators to protest was allegedly taken at the funeral service of slain taxi driver Jabu Baloyi on Sunday in Soshanguve. Baloyi was shot dead after he and his fellow taxi drivers tried to chase drug lords from the inner city.
The taxi operators' protest is not the only one happening in South Africa. About twenty people were arrested following violent truck protests in KwaZulu-Natal that happened over the weekend.
In Johannesburg, over 90 people were arrested for looting foreign nationals' shops and damaging property.
Although it is not illegal to protest, not every protest is legal. According to Section 17 of the Constitution, everybody has the right to protest, peacefully and unarmed.
However, the following can get you arrested:
- Violence: Protesters cannot physically harm a person.
- Vandalism: You can be arrested for vandalising public or private property.
- Disobeying a lawful police order is illegal: This includes if an order is given by the South African Police Service that the protests must dissolve and you continue.
- Arson or hate speech can also get you arrested.
READ: Pupils vow to continue with their protests at Verulam school